Response to Animal Welfare Investigation Earns Employees Award

Communications Director

Response to Animal Welfare Investigation Earns Employees Award

Posted: 02/17/2014

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch today named Animal Control Officers Keri Henley and Keith Hogue the Civilian Employees of the Month for November. Ms. Henley joined the department in July 2008. Mr. Hogue became an animal control officer in March 2008.

Chief Rausch said that on October 29, 2013, at approximately 12:37 p.m., Animal Control Officers Henley and Hogue were requested to respond to a residence on Bradshaw Garden Drive to assist patrol officers and the Department of Children Services (DCS) with an investigation involving a minor. There were several dogs in the yard and a strong odor of feces and urine emanating from the residents. The adult also appeared to have feces stains on her clothing. Officer Henley and Hogue secured the dogs which allowed DCS agents to enter the residence. The agents immediately retreated from the residence due to the amount of feces in the living room along with the noxious odor of ammonia from the animal urine. The animal control officers began documenting the conditions inside the residence along with attempting to determine how many dogs and cats were being kept inside.

Throughout the residence including the kitchen, bedrooms, hallways, living room, stairs and basement, Officer Henley and Officer Hogue documented the rooms overflowing with trash, feces, and urine. Multiple litter boxes were overflowing with waste. The walls were scratched bare in places where cats had tried to cover their feces and urine. Thirteen dogs and cats were captured and removed from the residence. The homeowner was cited on thirteen counts of Animal Cruelty, thirteen counts of having no city tags or rabies, and one count of having too many animals. The residence was deemed unfit for habitation.

Chief Rausch said, "Officers Henley and Hogue worked tirelessly for hours and in unhealthy conditions documenting the scene and removing the animals from the squalor. We appreciate their efforts to ensure that the responsible individual is held accountable."